The apostle Paul makes an interesting statement in 1 Cor.16:8-9— “But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”

In assessing the situation, Paul seems to take a very different approach from most people who talk about open doors that the Lord has set before them. Usually, we consider an open door to be a case where all difficulties have been removed. We think that the easiest path forward must be the way that God wants us to take. However, that is not always the case.

Paul doesn’t clue us in on exactly what kind of opportunity was made available to him. Nor does he elaborate on the nature of the opposition that he was facing. But he does set forth a biblical principle that seems to go against popular thought—sometimes the door that God opens for us is not the path of least resistance. In fact, the way God wants us to go might be the most difficult of the choices that lie before us.

I heard a story about a family who relocated because of a career change. They were Christians, so of course they immediately began to search for a Bible-believing congregation in their area where they could worship and serve the Lord. They planned to visit four churches before choosing one to be their new home congregation.

The first church they visited stood out because of its clear presentation of the Bible. The sermon was interesting and relevant and solidly based on Scripture. The Sunday School lesson was well-prepared, and the discussion remained focused on the Word of God. The children were able to discuss what they learned on the ride home. The parents were quite impressed with this church.

The next Sunday the family attended a church that had a wonderful music program. The songs were inspiring, easy to sing along with and based on biblical truth. They could tell that the singers and musicians had spent a lot of time in preparation for the worship service. This church, like the first one, seemed to be a good candidate for their new church home.

The third church that they visited had a wonderful youth program, with full-time ministers for both the young children and the teenagers. There were plenty of volunteers who led different programs that provided opportunities for fun and learning for children of all ages. This congregation also appeared to be a good choice for their new church family.

The fourth and final congregation that the family attended was an interesting experience, to say the least. The worship service was poorly planned, the preacher seemed to struggle through his sermon, and the Sunday School program did not appear to be well-organized. The people were friendly enough, but church life there seemed to be a bit chaotic.

When the parents got home that afternoon, it was time to make their decision. The husband and wife talked about the pros and cons of each congregation and made their decision. They decided that the fourth congregation needed their help more than the others did! They did not choose the easy path, but rather the more difficult one.

Sometimes the door that God opens will not lead you to an easier life, but a harder one. Always keep that in mind as you make decisions along the way in your journey with Jesus.